SAIF Golden Charter

Lifelong learning from IFD College

At this year’s SAIF Education Day in October, the focus will be on the need for continual learning. Here Nicola Jarmaine discusses her new role as an Internal Verifier (or IQA) for the IFD College and how the courses provide high-quality training.

I have to admit to a huge sigh of relief when I reached the end of my Internal Quality Assurance Course enabling me to start work as an Internal Verifier (or IQA) for the Independent Funeral Directors (IFD) College.

It has been a timely reminder to me of the pressure those who I train or assess may feel as they work towards their IFD College qualifications, gathering evidence and compiling portfolios.

This particular course is built on the knowledge I had gained from A1 Assessor training some years ago and I am immensely grateful to those assessors and learners who supported me by permitting me to record their assessments as evidence for my own coursework.

I am delighted to be in a position to offer more to the IFD College as it moves forward with its range of accredited courses for vocational training. As there is most definitely no ‘one size that fits all’ when it comes to learning, it is great to be involved with training where the pace is dictated by the students themselves and with great flexibility, acknowledging that we are all individuals, not only in our experience but in our styles of learning – a far cry from more traditional approaches to education.

My enthusiasm is fired by the IFD College having its own distinct identity, which sets it apart from, and certainly complements, other training providers in the funeral profession.

As it keeps pace with the changes in law and good practice, the College offers great opportunities for acknowledging and rewarding the skills and expertise of a company’s most valuable assets – those wonderful and highly dedicated members of staff.